EnCat (2017-2020 ongoing)

Enhanced catalytic fast pyrolysis of biomass for maximum production of high quality biofuels.

The Enhanced Catalytic Pyrolysis (EnCat) project presents and investigates a new concept for the production of high-quality bio-oil and a high yield. Because of a novel biomass pre-treatment step to be developed the concept is suitable for both woody biomass and biomass residues from agriculture, etc. The pretreated biomass will be pyrolysed in a reactor making use of deoxygenation catalysts. Simultaneously, CO2 will be captured with sorbents and via the water-gas-shift reaction in-situ hydrogen will be produced. After cleaning, the oil vapours will be mildly hydrogenated to produce a high-quality bio-oil. The high-quality oil will be used for combustion tests in both a diesel engine and a gas turbine for combined power and heat generation. Parallel to this, the bio-oil will be further upgraded by a new method of downstream hydrogenation under high pressure for production of high-grade transportation fuels.

Green Biogas DMM – Delen Maakt Meer (2017-2019 ongoing)

Intensification of the biogas production from the anaerobic digestion process by optimizing turbulence and mixing levels between various organic compounds and bacteria inside a new design of the digester

Sponsored: RVO-SDE
Partners: HoSt/Biogass Marrum (NL), Saxion (NL)

Vortex Chamber Spray Dryer (2015-2018 ongoing)

Aim of the project is to translate the concept of a vortex chamber spray dryer into a well-engineered unit that is ready for further scale-up and demonstration, including validation of energy saving potential, proof of low investment costs and of improved product properties.

NeMo (2016-2017)

The challenge of this project is to use computer simulations for modeling multi-component, multi-phase and multi-scale fuel combustion and understand the processes and phenomena which droplets undergo in a reacting flow. To promote the application of renewable fuels in power and transportation sector, a pyrolysis oil is investigated.

Biomass gasification (2015-2017)

The goal of this project is production of the renewable electricity and heat by a development of an economically attractive gasification and combustion technology in a grate furnace that can utilize the full potential of the biomass waste stream. This technique should be able to realize low temperatures in the gasification zone by recirculation of flue gas under the grate and separation after combustion zone.

Sponsored: HoSt
Partners: HoSt (NL)

Optimized SNG (2014-2016)

The main goal of this project was to design an optimum system for the production of synthetic natural gas from biomass. In addition, a preliminary design for the production of by-products such as char and power have been developed.

Sponsored: Torrgas
Partners: Torrgas (NL)

Vortex Chamber (2013-2015)

The challenge was to validate concept of novel spray drier. During the project experimental and numerical research were performed.

Groen Gas (2011-2015)

The objective of the research was to develop a novel digestion installation for biogas production. The biogas yield depends substantially on the substrates composition, sludge loading rate and control over the organic matter break down. A good mixing between substrates (wet manure, organic material, biogas bubbles, solids and bacteria) must be achieved to increase the speed and level of biomass conversion process. This was investigated by application of the CFD numerical tools (Ansys-Fluent). The numerical study were focused on the sludge mixing process taking into account various operating conditions, different digester geometrical configurations, number and rotational speed of impellers. Optimized mixing performance and maximized biogas production were desired. The CFD computations were validated with literature data.

BE2O – Pyrolysis oil combustion in GT (2011-2014)

The challenge of the project was to develop a new generation of gas turbines that is capable to handle bio-oils generated via flash pyrolysis of biomass. New and advanced design tools and techniques were required to realize efficient and clean combustion of bio-oil. During the project a state-of-the-art atomization test rig to investigate fuel droplet size and distribution in the near-field was designed and constructed. Numerical models of pyrolysis oil combustion were developed and validated with experiments performed at OPRA Turbines.

HiTAC (2009-2013)

This project concerned the extension of the application of High Temperature Air Combustion (HiTAC) to heavy-oil combustion processes in a boiler. To generate the knowledge needed to be able to develop and design such a boiler, experimental and computational investigations were made of turbulent spray flames under HiTAC conditions.An experimental study of spray flames of light fuel oil burning in a co-flow of hot air diluted with combustion products provided detailed knowledge of the relations between atomization process, ignition, entrainment and burnout. A spray combustion model for the HiTAC regime was developed for heavy fuel combustion, including the prediction of emissions under HiTAC conditions (NOx, CO and soot). This provided a tool to assist in burner and boiler development. The spray model was embedded in the commercial CFD code ANSYS-Fluent and used in combination with appropriated models for turbulence, soot formation and radiative heat transfer. This tool was used to support the preparation of a HiTAC boiler field test. This field test were done at 9 MW scale by Stork Thermeq, using heavy oil characterized and delivered by Shell.

Pyrolysis oil in micro-GT (2010-2011)

The goal of the project was to investigate whether a standard micro gas turbine without significant modifications can operate reliably on pyrolysis oil (PO) as a fuel. The main difficulties for pyrolysis oil application in gas turbine technology have source in the properties of liquid biomass which differ significantly from those of fossil fuels. High viscosity, low heating value, acidity, solid content, delayed ignition time and aging are only few properties of PO which may delay its application in modern combustion devices. To assure proper heat transfer from the combusted gases into the fuel and as a consequence proper evaporation of pyrolysis oil, a fine mist of pyrolysis droplets from atomizer must be created.

FLUISTCOM (2004-2008)

FLUISTCOM investigated the fundamental scientific aspects in the field of fluid-structure interaction for turbulent combustion systems. The project was motivated by the recent push towards leaner combustion technologies and reduced emissions. Such lean premixed combustion systems are prone to thermo-acoustic instabilities that can induce intolerable vibrations of the chamber walls